Professor slams NMSU regents in retirement announcement

Jim Peach, professor of economics at New Mexico State University, speaks to the Senate Finance Committee about energy outlooks and oil prices at the State Capitol earlier this year. Peach, in an April 23 letter to the university, announced his retirement in part because he didn't agree with actions of the NMSU Board of Regents.(Photo11: Luis Sanchez Saturno/The New Mexican)

LAS CRUCES - A high-profile New Mexico State University professor submitted a retirement letter in recent days, citing concerns about the NMSU Board of Regents' management of the institution.

Jim Peach, an NMSU economics professor who holds an endowed chair, claimed in the letter he was "leaving a job that I love" after 38 years because "I no longer want to work for this Board of Regents or for a new chancellor and a new provost appointed by this Board." He claimed the board "has done and will continue to do serious damage to this great institution." He said his retirement is effective June 30.

In the April 23 letter, Peach contends the regents have attempted to "micro-manage the university but lack the knowledge and expertise to do so" and that they're "numerically and logically challenged." But he doesn't go into further detail about his concerns.

Peach was among a number of faculty, state lawmakers and community members supporting NMSU Chancellor Garrey Carruthers last year in a push for an extended contract for him. They expressed confidence in the Carruthers' leadership of the institution through a difficult period that saw several financial cuts handed down by the state Legislature. In spite of broad support for Carruthers, the board of regents bypassed the chance to issue Carruthers a two-year contract extension, instead voting 4-0 to move forward with a search for a new chancellor.

The regents, led by Chairwoman Debra Hicks, have said their decision not to renew Carruthers' contract was based on the university failing to hit key benchmarks, including for enrollment. They said they approved of Carruthers' work handling of state budget cuts but said the university's long-term success will hinge upon enrollment growth.

NMSU in recent years has struggled with enrollment decline and retention, There was about a 3 percent drop in fall 2017, in spite of some positive strides in freshmen enrollment after a recent intense push to recruit out-of-state. Administrators in part have attributed the stagnation to slow state population growth.

Peach, in his recent letter, said the regents were seeking a "change agent," but they already "had one in hand," a reference to Carruthers.

Carruthers, a former New Mexico governor, in 2003 became dean of the NMSU College of Business, where he'd worked with Peach for years. A former board of regents hired Carruthers in 2013 for the chancellor role.

Peach told the Sun-News he didn't intend for his retirement letter to be made public. He said he didn't want to comment further on the matter.

Peach, who plans to remain in Las Cruces after his retirement, said in his letter he's worked with "great" students and colleagues. And he's "enjoyed a good ride" at the institution, which as provided a "challenging environment in which to work." He said he wants "nothing but the best for NMSU."